THREE sites in Wales have been selected for a research project looking into the use of organic fertilisers. The three-year project aims to give farmers knowledge on using products such as quality compost and, for the first time, anaerobic digestate …

We need to continue developing the sort of services – such as weekly food waste collections – that will give us the best chance of reaching this ambition….

The Centre for Alternative Technology is joining the Big Feast harvest events with its very own sustainable food fayre.

For more information visit their website: www.cat.org.uk

The carcass will be transported to a rendering plant in Dorset by cattle experts Frome Vale who will process the carcass using a cooking and separating process to make the bone meal fuel. The company is licensed with Defra, operating in accordance with animal by-products regulations.

Colin Smith from Frome Vale said: “This has been an unusual and complex operation but thankfully, with a co-ordinated effort between all the parties involved, it has resulted in an efficient removal.

“As a result I would like to extend my gratitude on behalf of the council to all those who worked with us for their valued contribution.”

Source: Renewable Energy News

The Welsh Assembly Government delayed a decision until it had decided whether or not a special environmental assessment was required, but they concluded this was not required, leaving the Vale council’s planning committee to make the decision.

The biomass plant scheme has been proposed by Sunrise Renewables Ltd, based in Warrington. The plant would generate enough power for 22,000 houses but residents have opposed the scheme claiming the plant could cause environmental damage to the area.

Their new report entitled ‘Wind Energy in Wales: State of the Industry’ claims that very few approvals for wind projects are being granted compared to other parts of the UK. BWEA Cymru pointed out that Northern Ireland and Scotland are on course to meet their wind energy targets but Wales is expected to fall 800MW short of its goal for 2010. The report highlighted that just 100MW has actually been built in Wales over the past four years compared to it’s target in 2005 of 1GW of new onshore and offshore wind power over the following five years.

Maria McCaffery, chief executive of the British Wind and Energy Association stated that more should be done if the Welsh Assembly Government is to meet its goal of making the country self-sufficient in renewable energy by 2028.

she added. “That bold vision requires the right political decisions to approve planning applications on the ground. As it stands today, decisions are just not being made,”